Sabres Destroy Islanders
Oct 14, 2008 NHL
I have the game on my PVR, and am going to watch tonight. Mostly because of this bit from the recap:
NY Islanders fighting - 5 min 8:43, S. Bergenheim
NY Islanders game misconduct - 10 min 8:43, S. Bergenheim
NY Islanders fighting - 5 min 8:43, B. Witt
NY Islanders game misconduct - 10 min 8:43, B. Witt
NY Islanders fighting - 5 min 8:43, N. Thompson
Buffalo fighting - 5 min 8:43, C. Rivet
Buffalo game misconduct - 10 min 8:43, C. Rivet
Buffalo game misconduct - 10 min 8:43, C. Rivet
Buffalo fighting - 5 min 8:43, P. Kaleta
Buffalo misconduct - 10 min 8:43, P. Kaleta
Buffalo fighting - 5 min 8:43, A. Mair
Buffalo game misconduct - 10 min 8:43, P. Kaleta
NY Islanders misconduct - 10 min 8:43, N. Thompson
Buffalo misconduct - 10 min 8:43, A. Mair
Lalime got the start and played well by all accounts. Vanek had two goals, including a shorty. Hecht left with an apparent injury to his hand, I’ll be checking on that today. I’ll have more once I’m able to watch it this afternoon.
Tags: buffalo, Hockey, islanders, kaleta, lalime, macdonald, mair, new york, NHL, rivet, sabres, Sean Bergenheim, Thomas Vanek, thompson, witt
Gameday - Sabres at Islanders
Oct 13, 2008 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres’ second game is an afternoon tilt at the New York Islanders, one which I will have to catch up on via PVR. Thanks, work. The Sabres are coming off an exciting opening win at home against the Canadiens, where they did so much right I’m almost afraid to talk about for fear of the jinx. The only concern coming out of the game (other than Connolly being injured AGAIN) is the power play, but you can’t get too worked up after one game against a very good team.
The Islanders come in 1-1, with their last game a win against the St. Louis Blues 5 to 2. DiPietro didn’t play in either game with knee swelling. He’s had knee and hip surgery in the past 6 months, so his durability may be coming into question, what with that 15 year contract. 2pm start time.
Edit: Lalime VS MacDonald is your goaltender matchup.
Tags: buffalo, connolly, dipietro, Hockey, islanders, new york, NHL, sabres
2008-2009 NHL Schedule Out
Jul 17, 2008 NHL
NHL.com has the schedule for this season out, and this article highlights some of the interesting games (like the ones being played in Europe). Here is the link to the full schedule. First thing that jumps out, Buffalo plays a day game at the Islanders on October 13th. There’s an early western trip Oct 23-25, visiting the Wild and Avalanche. I’ll look at it more and post more later.
edit: Here is the Sabres’s schedule specifically.
Tags: avalanche, buffalo, colorado, Hockey, islanders, minnesota, new york, NHL, sabres, schedule, wild
Deadline Day - Part 2
Feb 26, 2008 NHL
This day has seen the end of Campbell, but will it soon see the end of any other Sabres?
1:01pm: D Adam Foote to the Avalanche, Jackets get a Conditional pick (and another if Foote resigns?).
1:11pm: F Sergei Fedorov to Washington for Blue Jackets D Theo Ruth.
1:30pm: D Rob Davison goes to the Isles for a Sharks 7th round pick.
1:36pm: Canucks get F Matt Pettinger from the Capitals for F Matt Cooke. Caps are the big movers so far today.
2:45pm: So…is this it then?
2:50pm: D Christian Backman of the Blues to the Rangers for a 4th round pick.
2:51pm: D Hal Gill to the Penguins, Leafs get a 2nd and a 5th.
2:56pm: Here’s the boom: F Marian Hossa and F Pascal Dupuis (great name to say) to the Penguins, with the Thrash getting F Colby Armstrong, F Erik Christensen, F Angelo Esposito and a 1st rounder in return.
Deals can still go through after the deadline, sort of like sending mail that has to be postmarked by a certain time: as long as the deal is at the league office now, you are good.
3:11pm: Islanders send jerkwad F Chris Simon to the Wild for a 6th round pick.
3:20ish: Red Wings get D Brad Stuart for the Kings 2nd and 4th rounders.
3:25pm: Rangers get F Fredrik Sjostrom, G David Leneveu and F Josh Gratton, Coyotes get the other Hossa (Marcel, a forward) and goalie superprospect Al Montoya.
3:26pm: Leafs trade F Chad Kilger to the Panthers for a 3rd rounder.
3:30pm: Two deals by the Ducks, trading for Kings G JS Aubin (Miller’s opponent in those AMP commercials), giving up a 7th round pick, and getting D Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Isles for a 3rd.
Cleaning up the late deals…Washington gets F Alexandre Giroux from the Thrash for F Joe Motzko. Nashville gets F Jan Hlavac from the Lightning for a 7th round pick.
Tags: atlanta, avalanche, blue jackets, campbell, Colby Armstrong, colorado, columbus, davison, detroit, fedorov, foote, Hockey, hossa, islanders, kings, los angeles, new york, NHL, penguins, pittsburgh, ruth, sabres, san jose, sharks, simon, stuart, thrashers, trade, trade deadline, wings
NYC Wants The Next Ice Bowl
Jan 14, 2008 NHL
As reported in the Daily News, the Rangers want to play the next outdoor hockey game for the NHL…at Yankee Stadium. The old one, before it get’s torn down or swallowed back into the pit of hell from whence it came. ;) The Yankee management appears to be on board, and the Islanders want in as well. There are a few other tidbits in that article worth noting:
It also should be noted that the success of the most-recent outdoor game Jan. 1 in Buffalo has prompted seven other teams to contact the NHL to express their interest in hosting an outdoor game. The Bruins playing in Fenway Park has already gotten some buzz.
Seven teams…yeah, I’d call this a success.
If a Stadium game happens, the 2008-09 season will be an eventful one for the Rangers. Plans to have them open the season with two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Prague are all but finalized and will be announced at All-Star Weekend Jan. 26-27 in Atlanta. The NHL also expects to have the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins open with two games in Stockholm.
Some more Euro action here, which makes a bit more sense than London, with Sweden and the Czech Republic sending so many players over here. Maybe just a little bit of preempting that rumored European league that wants to compete with the NHL, too.
The bit on the second page about Drury and Briere’s NY/PHI jerseys being best sellers sucks.
Tags: czech republic, Hockey, ice bowl, islanders, lightning, new york, NHL, ottawa, outdoor game, penguins, pittsburgh, prague, rangers, senators, stockholm, sweden, tampa bay, winter classic
WJC - Canada And US Cruise
Dec 27, 2007 WJC
Team Canada, led by John Tavares’s 2 power play goals, shut out the host Czech Republic 3-0. The defending champs ran their win streak at the WJC to 19 games. Steve Stamkos, currently the number 1 prospect according to International Scouting Services, had 3 assists. Tavares would be pushing for numero uno but is not draft eligible this year. In a Buffalo connection, Tavares is the nephew of Buffalo Bandits lacrosse legend Johnny Tavares.
Team USA beat Kazakhstan 5-1, led by Kyle Okposo (former Gopher and future Islander). After giving up the opening goal, it was all USA. Russian and Sweden also won their opening matchups.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, bandits, canada, golden gophers, Hockey, islanders, john tavares, minnesota, new york, okposo, russian, stamkos, sweden, tavares, usa, WJC, world junior championships
Sabres Escape Island With 2-1 Win; Roy And Connolly Leave The Ice
Dec 20, 2007 NHL
Ryan Miller bailed out his team last night as the Buffalo Sabres beat the Islanders 2-1 to push their win streak to 4 straight. Miller made 42 saves in a dominating effort. Derek Roy cleaned up his own rebound for the first goal of the game, before leaving with a shoulder stinger (x-rays negative). Maxim Afinogenov scored the game-winner on a sweet cross-ice pass from Campbell, and that was all the offense that was needed. Vanek narrowly missed on another goal as he came in on DiPietro, spun around and launched a backhand that was just stopped by the blocker.
The Sabres’ D (with Kalinin back) played better than the shot totals would have you think, most of the shots were not all that dangerous. When they did get through, Miller had great control. If he couldn’t smother it, the rebound was being directed with purpose. Fight fans even got a treat, as Tim Jackman gave Hecht an extra shove after a whistle, and Adam Mair took exception and nailed Jackman in the face with some lefts before they tumbled to the ice.
You had to breathe a sigh of relief after time ticked away on this one, hopefully the Philly games this weekend are not so close.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, campbell, dipietro, hecht, Hockey, islanders, jackman, mair, Maxim Afinogenov, new york, NHL, roy, Ryan Miller, sabres, Thomas Vanek
Gameday - Sabres at Islanders
Dec 19, 2007 NHL
Dmitri Kalinin takes over for Andrej Sekera for tonight’s 7pm game at Nassau Coliseum. The Sabres are on a three game win streak, and the Islanders are dealing with yet another suspension to jerkface Chris Simon. He’s gone for an NHL-record 30 games which still doesn’t seem like long enough for a guy that tried to cut Jarkko Ruutu’s foot off with his skate blade. This closely follows a 25 game suspension for two-handing Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick…and six other suspensions. He should be out of chances.
Getting back to the game…it’s been great to see Roy, Vanek and Stafford playing so well, and hopefully ‘tri can return to the form he had before his injury. Hopefully the boys can use this as a tune-up for the home and home with the Flyers this weekend and jump back into a playoff spot.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Drew Stafford, Hockey, hollweg, injury, islanders, new york, NHL, roy, ruutu, sabres, simon, suspension, Thomas Vanek
Sabres Top Isles 5-3
Dec 13, 2007 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres continued to flex their playmaking muscles with another 40 shot effort as they beat the New York Islanders 5 to 3. Miller made 28 saves and showed no ill effects from his sprained ankle on Monday. Nolan Pratt got the scoring started in the first, with Paul Gaustad screening Rick DiPietro on Pratt’s point shot for his first goal as a Sabre. Toni Lydman scored a goal as well, on a similar play. This time, Thomas Vanek paid the price in front (after taking a shot off the melon). Loods was in rare form in the post-game interview, joking “It kept my goal scoring streak alive, I score at least one every season. It was typical goal … just close my eyes and shoot.”
The Sabres third goal was on a terribe clearing attempt by Bill Guerin a minute after Toni’s goal. His weak backhand went straight to Jason Pominville, who fed Ales Kotalik for an easy goal. Miro Satan scored on a 5 on 3 to make it 3-1, and Roy followed up with a powerplay goal of his own to stretch it back to a three goal lead.
It got interesting later as Park and Sillinger scored to make it 4-3, but Jochen Hecht tucked home his 10th through the legs of DiPietro (should’ve had it, Rick). Another hard-working goal from Jochen, who may finally get his 20 goals this year. There were a ton of penalties called in this game, especially with how some other recent games have been called. Lindy Ruff noted this crew of refs is known for that and made sure his team was ready for the PP and PK.
The Sabres travel to Washington for a game tomorrow, and then home for the Patrick Kane-led Blackhawks.
edit: Heather at Top Shelf noted that Comrie was -3 (and I totally called that Hecht 20 goal thing first!)
Tags: B-Lo Sports, dipietro, gaustad, guerin, hecht, Hockey, islanders, kotalik, lydman, new york, NHL, park, pominville, pratt, roy, ruff, Ryan Miller, sabres, satan, sillinger, Thomas Vanek
Sabres lose home and home with the Isles
Oct 8, 2007 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres opened with home and home losses to the New York Islanders, losing the first game 6-4 and the second 3-2 in a much stronger effort. Jaroslav Spacek has looked good so far, netting 2 goals including one on the power play. It just seems like the Sabres are a touch out of sync, and that is something that will improve with play. Of course, they don’t play again until Thursday which is just dumb. At least there are several more home games coming up, GO SABRES!
